Meeting for Sufferings: Cautious optimism for Circles UK
Progress on the funding situation for Circles UK was shared at Meeting for Sufferings
Meeting for Sufferings welcomed an update from Claire Cooper, parliamentary engagement officer for Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM), on the status of Circles of Support and Accountability (Circles UK).
The Circles of Support and Accountability initiative was established by BYM and is a volunteer-based means of supporting registered sex offenders to minimise reoffending. It became an independent organisation called ‘Circles UK’ in 2008.
In July Sufferings learned that the National Probation Service was going to withdraw funding for Circles UK. A meeting between Circles UK and Rory Stewart, minister of state for the Ministry of Justice, has since taken place.
Circles UK and Ministry of Justice officials have agreed to work on two proposals: one enabling current provision to continue until March 2019, and one to address longer term funding. Circles UK held a meeting of local providers on 12 September to discuss the approach to both of these proposals.
Claire Cooper wrote: ‘The Circles UK chief executive is cautiously optimistic that progress is being made towards a positive outcome. BYM staff remain in contact with her and have reiterated Friends’ readiness to escalate our lobbying activity should this prove necessary and helpful.’
